Motorized gearbox assembly with through-channel design
An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a motor and a gearbox coupled to the motor and configured to apply torque to a tilt rod of a window blind. The gearbox is configured to enable the tilt rod to pass completely through the gearbox. In certain embodiments, the gearbox includes a shaft configured to apply torque to the tilt rod. This shaft may extend from a first end of the gearbox to a second end of the gearbox and may include a through-channel to enable the tilt rod to pass completely therethrough. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a motor; and
a gearbox comprising an internal enclosure and an external enclosure, wherein the internal enclosure encloses gears, and wherein the external enclosure encloses the internal enclosure and creates a cavity between the internal enclosure and the external enclosure;
an output shaft comprising a through-channel, the output shaft extending through the internal enclosure and the external enclosure, wherein the gears apply torque to the output shaft;
a window covering tilt rod that passes through the through-channel of the output shaft;
a selectable tilt rod adapter insert fixedly disposed within the through-channel of the output shaft,
the adapter having an internal shape complementary to the tilt rod and an external shape complementary to the through-channel of the output shaft, wherein the output shaft applies torque to the tilt rod via the tilt rod adapter.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft is geared to enable torque to be applied to the shaft.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft is offset relative to a centerline of the gearbox.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the through-channel is keyed to interlock with the tilt rod.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a retention feature to retain the adapter insert within the through-channel.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adapter insert snaps into the through-channel.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor resides within the gearbox.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a method of using the apparatus, the method comprising:
removing the tilt rod from a blinds tilting mechanism;
introducing a gearbox assembly into the blinds titling mechanism, the gearbox assembly comprising the motor and the gearbox coupled to the motor and configured to apply torque to the tilt rod; and
reinstalling the tilt rod such that the tilt rod passes completely through the gearbox.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising attaching the gearbox assembly to a headrail containing the blinds tilting mechanism.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein attaching the gearbox assembly to the headrail comprises inserting a headrail bracket into a top of the headrail and securing the headrail bracket to the headrail and the gearbox assembly.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein introducing the gearbox assembly comprises introducing the gearbox assembly with the adapter insert configured to interlock with the tilt rod.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein introducing the gearbox assembly with the adapter insert comprises snapping the adapter insert into the gearbox assembly.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein reinstalling the tilt rod comprises inserting the tilt rod through the shaft of the gearbox.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the shaft extends from a first end of the gearbox to a second end of the gearbox.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein shaft is offset relative to a centerline of the gearbox.
16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the motor resides within the gearbox.